Prediction: Chelsea vs Rennes

Prediction: Draw

Best Odds: 17/4

Bookmaker: 888sport

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic happening all across the world, elite sport is still being allowed to continue across the European football spectrum. Therefore, the UEFA Champions League will continue, and this week will see a string of fascinating games take place all across the continent. The one we’re going to be taking a look at today will pit two incredibly exciting teams against one another – the Premier League’s Chelsea and Ligue 1’s Rennes.

Chelsea

After the early gloom and doom we saw from critics after a few questionable results, Chelsea are finally starting to look like the team everyone knew they were capable of being. Frank Lampard may not be the definition of a well-oiled manager right now but he has been able to recognise the problems that his side had early on this season, and now, we’re looking at a team that isn’t all that far away from making a title push – whether it be during this campaign or the next.

Team News

Arrizabalaga is a doubt for this one but almost certainly wouldn’t have played anyway with Mendy coming up against his former club. Elsewhere, Gilmour is still out with Pulisic’s hamstring injury leaving him on the shelf as the club attempts to discover the full extent of the problem.

Rennes

Rennes haven’t gotten off to the best of starts in their Champions League group but they’re still a team you simply cannot count out as a result of their style and overall determination on the ball. Sure, the fact that they still can’t have fans in the stadium hurts them, but they aren’t the sort of side that will roll over and accept defeat. They’re going to fight until the final whistle and there aren’t many teams across the European elite that are willing to do that.

Team News

Camavinga’s absence is a huge miss for Rennes and he isn’t the only one who will miss out as Rugani, Niang and Maouassa will all be absent.

Factors to Consider

• Chelsea are in 1st place in Group E after two games, whereas Rennes are in 4th place.
• Chelsea have won three and drawn three of their last six games.
• Rennes have won one, drawn three and lost two of their last six games.
• Chelsea have scored 14 goals and conceded three in their last six games.
• Rennes have scored seven goals and conceded eight in their last six games.

Conclusion

Rennes are going to come straight out at Chelsea in an attempt to give the Blues a bloody nose, and we think they’re going to be successful. It’s clear to see that the hosts are starting to put the right defensive pieces in place for them to thrive this season, but even with that being the case, they’re still carrying a fairly substantial weight on their shoulders. We’re backing Rennes to keep their qualification hopes alive by holding Lampard’s men to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Prediction: Draw

Best Odds: 17/4

Bookmaker: 888sport